Mercedes B-Class Range : TO BE OR NOT TO B

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The B-Class confused buyers at first but Mercedes has responded by attempting to make it too good to overlook. Andy Enright reports

The Mercedes B-Class is a much improved car and hard to fault in comparison with rival compact MPV products. It doesnt quite offer the interior flexibility that family buyers look for but the build quality, design and engineering are all first rate. It feels a class above the rest. The problem is that this is reflected in the price.

Mercedes is company currently enjoying a renaissance. Even the most ardent fans of the marque will admit that quality slipped on certain models in the late nineties, but recognising that sales rely on an impression of bomb-proof build quality, the company has got its act together. While its easy to make a £90,000 car drip with feel-good factor, Mercedes have latterly shown that its more affordable models are now well up to scratch. Take the B-Class, Mercedes take on the five-door family saloon.

Its a small car but feels built like a tank. Trouble is, many buyers werent sure quite what a B-Class was when it first appeared. Mercedes calls it a Sports Tourer. That may be pushing things a bit.

A round of revisions has aimed to imbue the B-Class with more of what we think of as traditional Mercedes qualities. Strong build quality, a genuinely upmarket feel and some dizzyingly clever technology are all now available to B-Class buyers. Mercedes dub the car a Sports Tourer, but despite the great strides in driveability made by the A-Class upon which the B-Class is inspired, sporty is perhaps a stretch too far. Still, although it wont make the cover of evo magazine, the B-Class is nevertheless a quality steer.

The petrol line up opens with the 95bhp B150, then theres a 115bhp B170. Most buyers will instead opt for the diesel-engined models and Mercedes have a pair of options, the entry-level being marked out by the 109bhp B180 CDI and the premier diesel powerplant is that fitted to the 140bhp B200CDI. A manual transmission is the default but all models will be available with an optional Autotronic CVT gearbox.

"Strong build quality, a genuinely upmarket feel and some dizzyingly clever technology"

The B-Class handles neatly enough, with less body roll than you may expect for such a high-sided vehicle. The electro-mechanical power steering feels a little odd at first, but trust it and itll direct the cars nose accurately. The ESP stability control system can feel a little over zealous for real press-on driving but otherwise its fairly vice free. With a little more weight to carry around than the equivalent A-Class, the B-Class enjoys better front end traction, especially evident when packing one of the more powerful engines.

Hill Start Assist is a relatively new function that prevents roll back on steep slopes. Theres even an optional Active Parking Assist system which can parallel park the B-Class for you. Mercedes has worked to sharpen the appeal of the B-Class and the unassuming front end now looks a lot more purposeful thanks to revised headlights and grille. The rear styling has also been tidied up and there are now no models that dont sport body-coloured mirrors, door handles and skirt panels.

The B-Class has always been more about the inside than the outside though. Sit in the back of the B-Class, stretch your legs out and youll appreciate that its comparable with the amount of room in the back of an S-Class limousine. Only those at the extreme end of the ergonomic scale will have any problems with head or legroom and theres ample room for three abreast. Despite this, the B-Class breaks the tape at only 4,270mm long.

To put that figure into perspective, a Ford Focus measures 4,342mm from bumper to bumper, making this Mercedes something of a packaging marvel. The quality of the interior trims has improved with both seat materials and fascia trims being a lot more in keeping with the Mercedes image. The rear seats all fold flat into the floor and the boot floor can even be raised to offer a flat loading surface. Other clever touches include a front passenger seat that folds forward to permit long loads and slots next to the rear doors to allow seat belts to be stowed safely out of the way when loading and unloading.

The centre rear seat back can also pop forward, offering an armrest with a neat pair of cupholders when travelling four-up. The driving position is undeniably sporty. The wheel sits almost vertical and your legs stretch forward into a deep footwell. It almost feels like sitting in a jacked-up Lotus Elise but for the interior quality.

The big caveat for many will be the asking price. Youre looking at a premium of between £2,000-£3,000 over comparable models from mainstream manufacturers, a price some will be willing to pay. There will be others of course who will look at these prices, compare them to something like a Renault Scenic or a Focus C-MAX and decide that the gulf is just too large. But Mercedes say that unlike those two apparently obvious rivals, the B-Class doesnt purport to be a mini-MPV, instead targeting family buyers who would have previously bought something aspirational but practical.

Vehicles such as Volkswagens Passat, Saabs 9-3 Sportwagon and Volvos V50 would sit squarely within this category. Thats the Mercedes take at least. Equipment levels are fairly generous but its the latest features that really pique the attention. Clever touches like crash responsive emergency lighting, flashing brake lights, and improved infotainment systems all mark the B-Class out as something removed from the norm.

The optional Active Parking Assist utilises ultrasonic sensors and the cars stter-by-wire system to manoeuvre the B-Class into a suitable parking space. All the driver need do is control the accelerator and brake. In a bid to further drive down emissions and save fuel, there are now B150 and B170 BlueEFFICIENCY models available to order which feature an ECO start/stop function. This generates fuel savings of up to nine per cent in city traffic, the engine cutting out when the vehicle shifts to neutral at low speeds while depressing the brake pedal.

A starter-generator fires the engine back into life far quicker than a conventional starter motor. Fuel economy isnt bad with the diesel B-Class models, both achieving just over 50mpg on the combined cycle. The B150 petrol model manages 42.8mpg and the B170 is barely any thirstier with 41.

5. The automatic gearbox options knock a couple of mpg off these figures. In the final reckoning, the B-Class success or failure very much depends on whether customers will swallow the Mercedes party line that goes some way to explaining its pricing premium. After all, a 2.

0-litre Renault Scenic, which does the family accommodation thing as well, if not better, will cost around £3.000 less. Of course, the Mercedes is the more aspirational model and will retain a good deal more of that value when the time comes to sell on, but its still quite a big ask. If you appreciate quality and dont mind shelling out, the B-Class shouldnt disappoint.

The latest B-Class differentiates itself further in terms of quality, design and smart engineering that isnt common in the compact MPV sector but you do pay for the privilege. The interior ambiance, the driving experience and the innovative design all stand out but whether you buy one will come down to how highly you value that three-pointed star on the grille.

Facts At A Glance
CAR: Mercedes B-Class range
PRICES: £18,840-£22,540 on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 7E-14E
CO2 EMISSIONS: 137-175g/km
PERFORMANCE: [B170] Max Speed 114mph / 0-62mph 11s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [B180 CDI] (urban) 39.2mpg / (extra urban) 61.4mpg / (combined) 50.4mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags / ABS / ESP
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 4270/1777/1604mm